Box sealer &amp; closer

ABSTRACT

An apparatus for sealing and closing boxes having sensing means for sensing the width and height of the box prior to its entry into the machine, means for comparing the size of the box being sensed with the size of the box going through the machine, and delay means for delaying movement of the various movable parts of the machine if there is a size difference, until the box in the machine has cleared the machine, and stop means for holding the box being sensed and preventing its entry into the machine, the stop means being rendered inoperable if there is no size difference and means for moving the sealing and closing portions of the machine if there is a size difference. Also disclosed is a novel flap closer employing a spiral member rotated by a motor.

United States Patent 1191 Poulsen July 15, 1975 [54] ox SEALER & CLOSER3,769,777 11/1973 Miller et a1. 53/76 76 l t E l d G L nt Poulsen, 1nven or 22222 5X? 3 Ridges Primary E.rummerTrav1s S. McGehee Ontario,Canada 7 AB TR CT [22] Filed: Mar. 18, 1974 [5 1 A An apparatus forsealing and closlng boxes havlng PP N05 451,939 sensing means forsensing the width and height of the box prior to its entry into themachine, means for [30] Foreign Applicafion priority Data comparing thesize of the box being sensed with the size of the box gomg through themachme, and delay Apr. 6. [973 Canada M18629 means for delaymg movementof the various movable 52 us. c1 53/75; 53/3 74 Parts of machme. here af the box in the machme has cleared the machine, and [51] Int. Cl B65b57/02; 8651: 7/20 I f h th b b d d 581 Field of Search 53/75, 76. 374 S6 OX F sense ventmg 1ts entry mto the machlne, the stop means [56]Reerences Cited being rendered mooerable If there Is no s1ze differenceand means for moving the sealing and closing portions UNITED STATESPATENTS of the machine if there is a size difference. Also dis-3,085,376 4/l963 Ferguson et al. 53/75 closed is a novel flap loseremploying a spiral mem. 3.261640 8/l966 Romney et al 1 v 53/75 berrotated by a motor. 3.374604 3/1968 Roesner et al 53/75 3.502.256 3/1970Boulay et al 53/75 X 23 Claims, 9 Drawing Figures SHEET zmtmxm 2.2:

mwwm r 1 Box SEALER & CLOSER The present invention relates to a methodand apparatus for sealing boxes of random size.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION Box gluing machines for gluing boxes ofrandom sizes which are presently in use, suffer from various defects.Such machines are required to accept boxes of a random size, withincertain upper and lower limits, and then to open the bottom flaps of thebox and apply glue and then re-close the bottom flaps and at the sametime apply glue to the top flaps and then close them, and apply pressureto the top and bottom flaps of the box so as to ensure that they aresecurely glued. Customarily, these functions are performed at variousdifferent stations throughout a machine, and some form of conveyerapparatus is incorporated into the machine to drive the boxes throughthe machine.

Such machines presently in use move the conveyers, or guides to thecorrect width, and tnove the upper flap closers and glue applicators andpressure members to the correct height, so as to glue and close thatparticular box, sensing of the size of the box being performed by themovable parts of the apparatus itself.

In such known apparatus, it has been the practise for all of the variousmovable parts to be established at their largest box position, ie attheir maximum width and maximum height, and then as each box ispresented to the machine the various parts will move inwardly anddownwardly until they contact the box itself at which point they willcome to rest. After that particular box has left the machine the movableparts will then move back out to their largest box position once more,ready for presentation of the next box.

Thus the sensing of the size of the particular box was, in fact,achieved by moving the various movable parts inwardly and downwardlyuntil they contacted the box itself.

As a result, the machine could only accept one box at a time, and allother boxes waiting to be glued would have to be backed up awaitingentry into the machine one at a time. This resulted in a slowing down ofthe operation. Obviously, if such a machine could be preset for aparticular size of box, and the same size of box could then be runthrough continuously, it would be possible to have two or even threeboxes in the machine at the same time, with a consequent increase inproduction.

However, in the case of known random box gluers, this was not possiblefor the reasons given. An additional factor causing a loss of productionwas the fact that for example when using boxes of smaller dimensions, ator close to the smallest sized box which the machine would accept, thevarious movable parts had to move from their largest box positions totheir smallest box positions and back again for each box. This was trueeven though a series of six or twelve such smaller boxes might bepresented to the machine one after the other.

In addition to the loss of time, such repetative movements led toexcessive wear in the machine resulting in a requirement for arelatively high degree of maintenance and machine down time.

BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION The invention therefore seeks to providea method and apparatus for the closing and sealing of random sized boxesin which the size of the box is sensed prior to its entry into themachine. If the box is the same size as the box currently in the machineitself, then the machine will immediately accept such a further boxwithout delay, and without the various movable parts moving from oneposition to another. If the size of the box as sensed is different fromthe size of the box going through the machine then the subsequent box isdelayed until the box in the machine is cleared. As soon as the box inthe machine has cleared the machine, the various movable parts of themachine will then move directly from the position for the first box sizeto the position for the next box size without going out to their largestbox position and then back again.

The invention further provides apparatus for performing the methoddescribed, which apparatus includes sensing means for sensing the widthand height of the box prior to its entry into the machine, means forcomparing the size of the box being sensed with the size of the boxgoing through the machine, and delay means for delaying movement of thevarious movable parts of the machine if there is a size difference,until the box in the machine has cleared the machine, and stop means forholding the box being sensed and preventing its entry into the machine,the stop means being rendered inoperable if there is no size difference.

More particularly, it is an objective of the invention to provide amethod having the foregoing advantages which includes the step ofvarying the amount of glue applied to the various panels of the box inaccordance with the size of the box.

More particularly, it is an objective of the invention to provide amethod having the foregoing advantages in which the preliminary step ofopening the bottom panels of the box for application of the glue isperformed at the sensing stage.

More particularly, it is an objective of the invention to provide randomgluing apparatus having the foregoing advantages in which the sensingmeans includes movable box conveyer means engagable with the sides ofthe box, whereby to drive the box through the sensing means.

More particularly, it is an objective of the invention to provideapparatus having the foregoing advantages in which means areincorporated in the sensing stage for opening the bottom flaps of thebox whereby to make the same ready foi' application of glue thereto.

More particularly, is an objective of the invention to provide apparatushaving the foregoing advantages in which the height sensing means isconnected directly to the vertically movable portions of the apparatus,and both closes the leading upper flap of the box and also detects theheight of the box, and controls movement of the vertically movableportions of the apparatus whereby to procure movement thereof to aheight corresponding to the height of the box.

More particularly, it is an objective of the invention to provideapparatus having the foregoing advantages incorporating means forclosing the rearward upper flap of the box by means of a rotary spiraldrive member arranged at an angle to the top of the box.

The foregoing and other objectives will become apparent from thefollowing description of a preferred embodiment of the invention whichis given here by way of example only with reference to the followingdrawings.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS FIG. 1 is a perspective illustrationof the random gluing apparatus according to the invention, shownpartially cut away, and partially in phantom;

FIG. 2A is a top plan view of the sensing station and a first portion ofthe closing and sealing apparatus shownin FIG. 1;

FIG. 2B is a top plan view of the remaining portion of the apparatus;

FIG. 3 is a schematic top plan view of the apparatus formoving themovable conveyer portions of the apparatus;

FIG. 4 is a perspective illustration of the height sensing apparatus;

FIG. 5 is a side elevation of a detail of FIG. 4;

FIG. 6 is a side elevation of the rear flap closing apparatus',

FIG. 7 is a perspective illustration showing the bottom flap openingmeans and product support member in schematic form, and,

FIG. 8 is a schematic block diagram showing the relationship of thevarious parts and their controls.

' LDESCRIPTION OF A PREFERRED EMBODIMENT Referring to FIG. 1, it will beseen that the apparatus comprises a box sensing zone shown as Z, and boxgluing and closing station shown as G, these two portions Z and Gforming part of the overall gluing apparatus zaccordingto the 1invention.

keferringrfirst of all'to the sensing zone Z, it will be seen that thiscomprises a box track way formed of plurality of rollsonothersubstantially frictionless carriage "means shownaswlll, arranged in tworows side by side in a horizontal manner to provide a predetermined path;of movementfor a box shown in phantom as B.

The box B will be a conventional rectangular packing case .or cartonhaving side flaps, and front and rear flaps forming its bottom and top.

The two sets of rollers 10 are mounted in a common frame 12, which maybe-moved upward and downward in a vertical plane by means of the aircylinder 14 for reasons to be described below.

The entry of boxes into the sensing zone Z, takes I place from a typicalbox conveyer line such as may be found in almost any factory andrequires no further description. In order to control the entry of suchboxes B into the sensing zone Z, an input gate 16 is provided, justprior to the rollers 10, the gate 16 being movable upwardly anddownwardly by means of the air cylinder 18, which is controlled .in amanner to be described below.

Movement of boxes B out of the sensing zone Z is controlled by means ofthe box stop plate 20 which is mounted on a further air cylinder 22,which is controlled in a manner to be described below.

As described above, it is necessary that the bottom side flaps of thebox B, which at this stage are still un- Z as shown, the angle rollers24 holding the two bottom side flaps at a predetermined angle so thatthey cannot swing. fully open.

In order to hold the front and rear flaps of the box closed, so as toprevent the escape of any product from the box, a product supportrail 26is provided, arranged between the two sets of rollers 10, and operableupwardly and downwardly by means of an air cylinder 28.

In order to sence the width of the box B at the sensing zone Z, a pairof infeed drive belts 30 are provided driven by any suitable motorizeddrive means 31, and running around wheels 32, so that the belt may bestarted and stopped as desired.

The wheels 32 are mounted on transverse slide mem bers (not shown)whereby the wheels 32 may slide towards and away from one another inpairs, from opposite sides of the sensing zone Z so as to accomodateeither a narrower or a wider box. (See FIG. 3.)

Co-ordinated transverse sliding movement of the wheels 32 is achieved bya continuous cable system (described in more detail below) whereby asingle air cylinder (described below) may control the inward and outwardsliding movement of the drive wheels 32.

Box contact sensors 33 which are of the fluidic airoperated type, aremounted adjacent to the belts 30 and will respond to contact with theopposite sides of the box B to deliver a signal.

In order to sense the height of the box B, the height sensing arm 34 isprovided, which is swingably mounted by means to be described below, sothat it may swing upwardly and downwardly. The free end of the arm 34 isbent into an L-shaped formation as shown, and a finger member 35 isswingably mounted on such free end, for contacting the leading or frontupper flap of the box B.

The sensing arm 34 is operated upwardly and downwardly by an aircylinder 36, and senses the height of the box B by means of the sensingunit shown generally as 37 (described below).

The gluing and closing portions of the apparatus are indicated generallyas G.

This portion of the apparatus is provided with any suitable form of boxcarriage means for supporting the box and its contents while it is movedthrough the apparatus. Such carriage means will be seen to comprisefurther angled rollers 38, and a product support rail or rails 40, whichare preferably angled downwardly at the input end of the apparatus toprovide a ramp. At the output end of the apparatus, the carriage meanscomprises a pair of upwardly angled lower side flap closers 42, and aplurality of free running rollers 44.

In order to drive the box forcibly from one end of such carriage meanstothe other, a pair of main drive belts 46 are provided, running aroundwheels 48, driven by anysuitable motor drive means 49.

As in the case of the drive belts 30 in the sensing zone Z, the entireassembly comprising each of the drive belts 46 and their associatedwheels 48 is movable transversely relative to the machine inwardly andoutwardly so as to accomodate boxes of different width. The manner inwhich such movement is achieved will be described below, (see FIG. 3) itbeing sufficient for the purposes of the present explanation tounderstand that the members move in and out as described.

In order to secure and glue the top flaps of the box, an upper assemblyis provided comprising a support frame 50 having two arms 52 which aremounted on vertical slide members (not shown) located at the back of themachine, and joined by a cross member 54 whereby the entire frameassembly 50 may be raised upwardly and downwardly along a vertical path.

Any suitable drive means may be provided, such as the air cylinder 55connected by any suitable means to the cross member 54.

Preferably such connection means will comprise a chain drive system andany suitable brake, the details of which are omitted for the sake ofclarity.

In order to close the rear flap of the box, the rear flap closerassembly 56 is provided comprising an angled support member 58 fastenedto the frame 50. The support member 58 carries a helically wound rodcloser member which is rotatably mounted at each end, so that it mayrotate along its central axis. Any suitable motor such as the pneumaticdrive motor 62 is provided to rotate the closer member 60. In additionto functioning as rear flap closer as described, when the closer rodmember 60 is stationary, it also serves to deflect the front panel ofthe box downwardly, if it has sprung up after leaving the sensing zoneZ.

In order to hold the front and rear flaps closed during application ofglue, a top flap securing rail 64 is provided, supported below andparallel to the frame 50, which engages both the front and the rear topflaps as the box is passing along the carriage means described above.

In order to hold the flaps shut, glue is applied to the front and rearflaps, of the top and bottom of the box, while the side flaps are open.The glue is applied in four strips, leaving the central portion of thefront and rear flaps free of glue so that they may be engaged by theproduct support means 40 and the top flap securing rail For the purposeof applying the glue, lower and upper glue applicators 66 and 68 areshown, which are connected by any suitable hose means (not shown) to asource of so called"hot melt glue or adhesive which is maintained in asuitable hot glue tank at a predetermined temperature in a liquid state.The lower and upper applicators 66 and 68 incorporate suitable on offvalve means (not shown) operated in a manner to be described below.

In order to dose the two side flaps after glue has been applied to thetop front and rear flaps, angled closer bars 70 are fastened beneath theframe 50, arranged in such a manner as to engage the edges of the sideflaps and fold them inwardly.

Pressure is applied to the top of the box by means of the pressureassembly 72 having a series of rollers 74 which are spring loaded in anysuitable manner so as to apply pressure to the top of the box, andthereby press both the lower side flaps and the upper side flaps againsttheir respective front and rear flaps while the glue is setting.

Referring now to FIG. 3, it will be seen that this Figure shows themanner in which the drive belts 30 of the sensing zone Z, and the drivebelts 46 of the gluing and closing portion G are moved transverselyinwardly and outwardly to accomodate different sizes of box.

Thus, the drive belts 30 will be seen to run around wheels 32, describedabove, and the wheels 32 are themselved mounted for transverse slidingmovement on any suitable slide rail means (not shown). In order to movethe wheels 32 inwardly and outwardly, a continuous control cable 76 isprovided which runs around a series of pulleys 78. Cable 76 may beoperated in one direction or the other around the pulleys 78 by means ofthe, air cylinder 80, which is clamped to the cable 76 by clamp means82. The wheels 32 of the drive belt 30 are also clamped at spacedintervals to the cable 76 by means of clamp means 84. As will beapparent from the layout of FIG. 3, movement of the control cable 76 inone direction in response to the operation of the air cylinder 80, willprocure transverse sliding movement of the wheels 32 in one direction,and movement of the cable 76 in the opposite direction will move thewheel 32 transversely in the opposite direction. At the same time, itwill of course be appreciated that such transverse movement will takeplace in equal and opposite amounts, so that the belts 30 always remaincentered with respect to the central axis of the entire apparatus sothat the box, no matter what its size is located along the central axisof the apparatus.

The main drive belts 46 similarly run around wheels 48 which are mountedon any suitable transverse sliding means (not shown) whereby they mayslide to and fro towards and away from one another. Such transversemovement of the wheels 48 is achieved by means of a control cable 86running around pulleys 88, and operated by means of an air cylinder 90fastened to the cable 86 by means of clamp means 92. The wheels 48 arealso connected to the control cable 86 by means of clamp 94. In thisway, transverse inward and outward movement of the main drive belt 46will take place in equal and opposite amounts in response to operationof the air cylinder 90, with the drive belts 46 remaining centered withrespect to the central axis of the apparatus at all time so as tomaintain the box on such central axis.

In order to control the various motors and air cylinders, a system ofsensing devices is provided at suitable points in the apparatus, as bestshown in FIG. 8. These sensing devices in the case of the presentinvention are all of the fluidic type. That is to say, they operate byvariation in air pressure. Such sensing devices operate on contact toprovide a signal which is the result, usually of shuting off an airoutlet in the sensing device. Obviously, however, the signal can equallywell be the result of opening up an air outlet which has previously beenshut off. In effect, therefore, such sensing devices may be regarding asthe equivalent of micro-switches in the case of an electrical controlsystem.

The sensing devices are connected to a fluidic logic system 96 by meansof which signals from the sensing devices are communicated to theappropriate operating members, namely the various motors and cylinders,for the purpose of procuring the appropriate operation of such membersin the correct sequence for the operation of the apparatus.

As shown in FIG. 8, the various air cylinders or pistons are shown bythe reference P, and their appropriate numbers, and the various motorsare shown by the reference M with their appropriate number, and thevalves for the glue applicators are shown by the reference V with theappropriate number, and the various sensors are shown by the letter Swith the appropriate number.

Thus, the first sensor to be activated when a box enters the widthsensing zone 2 is the sensor 98, which is located immediately behind theinput gate 16. The sensor 98 is connected to the logic 96, and deliversa signal thereto upon entry of a box from the factory conveyer system.

Sensors 33 are located in asssociation with each of the input drivebelts 30, and will move more inwardly and outwardly with the belts 30and will contact either side of a box when it enters the sensing zone Z.

The sensor 100 is attached to the box stop plate 20, and senses thearrival of a box in contact with the plate 20.

The two sensors 102, and 104 are mounted spaced apart from one anotheron a mounting plate 106, attached to one side of the drive belt 46 asshown. The sensors 102 and 104 are spaced apart from one another apredetermined distance, and are activated by an operating plate 108attached to the adjacent end of one of the belts 30. In this way, bysignals received from the sensors 102 and 104, any difference betweenthe width spacing of the belts 30, and the belts 46 can readily bedetected, and the logic 96 may deliver the appropriate signal to thepiston 90 in a manner to be described below.

As described above, the sensor unit 37 is attached to and responsive tothe movement of the height sensing arm 34, and sends an appropriatesignal to the logic system 96, for controlling operation of the piston55, which itself procures upward or downward movement of the frame 50and arms 52. Four sensors numbered 110, 112, 114, and 116 are located atspaced intervals along one side of the gluing and closing portion G,mounted on a suitable mounting plate (not shown) extending underneaththe front drive belt 46, and movable transversely inwardly and outwardlyin unison with the wheels 48 and belts 46. Each of these sensors isconnected to the logic system 96, and controls the following functions.The sensor 110 provides a signal producing upward operation of the aircylinder 22 and the box stop gate 20, such signal being produced as soonas a box has moved from the sensing zone Z into the beginning of thegluing and closing portion G. The sensor 112 provides a signal from thelogic system 96 to the motor 62 to start the rotation of the upper rearflap closer 60. Sensor 114 provides a signal from the logic system 96 tothe air cylinder 28 and the air cylinder 14 causing the product supportrail 26 to move downwardly, and the frame 12 carrying the rollers tomove upwardly. Sensor 116 provides a signal from the logic system 96 tothe motor 62 causing the rear flap closer member 60 to discontinuerotation. It will of course be appreciated that each of these sensors isactivated by contact of the box B as it passes through the gluing andclosing portion G of the apparatus, so that these various functions takeplace in sequence one after the other.

In order to procure application of the glue or hot melt adhesive to thelower and upper portions of the box, a further four sensors are providedon the rear side of the apparatus. The sensors are numbered 118, 120,122, and 124 respectively. They are all connected to the logic system96, and they procure signals from the logic system 96 to the valves V ofthe lower and upper glue applicators 66 and 68. As before, such sensorsare activated progressively one after the other by the passage of thebox B through the apparatus in a manner to be described below. Thus,sensors 122 and 124 are activated in sequence by contact with theleading edge of the box, and sensors 118 and 120 are activated insequence by movement of the trailing edge of the box past such sensors.In order to accomodate boxes of different length so as to apply gluestrips which are the appropriate length of the box, and also to cut ofi'application of the glue momentarily as the center of the box passes overthe glue applicators 66 and 68, it is necessary to sense the length ofthe box, and to provide some variation in the timing of the operation ofthe valve V controlling the applicator 66 and 68. Such sensing andcontrol is achieved by means of mounting the sensors 118 and 124 in amovable manner so that they may move length wise parallel to the axis ofmovement of the box B. Such movement is effected by mounting the sensors118 and 1 12 on opposite portions of the control cable 86, as best shownin FIG. 3. Thus, when the air cylinder moving the control cable 86 movesin one direction, the sensors 1 l8 and 124 will move outwardly apartfrom one another, when the air cylinder 90 moves in the other directionthe sensors 118 and 124 will move together again. It will of course beappreciated that the movement of the air cylinder 90 is simultaneouslyprocuring outward and inward movement of the belts 46 transversely withrespect to one another to accomodate variations in box width. However,since in all such boxes or packing cases, the width and the length areproportional to one another, a variation in the width will require aproportional variation in the length of the glue pattern, and suchproportional variation is achieved by the means described above.

Sensing of the height of the box is achieved by the sensing unit 37 asshown in H6. 5. The sensing arm 34 is connected through hub 126 to acontrol disc 128. Along side disc 128 are two fluidic sensors 130 and132 located on support arms 134. Arms 134 are mounted on frame 50. Disc128 is so arranged as to seal the air outlets (not shown) of sensors 130and 132. A channel or groove 136 of arcuate shape is cut in disc 128 toregister with sensors 130 and 132. and is just long enough to permitsuch registration with both sensors simultaneously in one predeterminedposition, as shown in FIG. 5.

STATEMENT OF OPERATION The operation of the apparatus will proceed inthe following stages:

1. It is assumed that a box is presently passing through the gluing andclosing station G, and that the input gate piston 18 and input gate 16are down and that the box stop cylinder 22 and box stop plate 20 are up.At this stage, the input drive belts 30 will have moved outwardly totheir widest position, in response to a signal from the logic system 96to the air cylinder 80, and the height sensing arm 34 will be at itshighest position.

2. As a second box arrives in the sensing zone Z, it will contact thesensor 98, which passes a signal to the logic system 96. Logic system 96then signals the piston 8 to move upwardly raising the input gate 16 soas to prevent the feed of further boxes into the sensing zone Z.

3. The logic system 96 then signals the piston 80 to move the two drivebelts 30 inwardly, and simultaneously starts up the motors 31 to procuredriving movement of belts 30.

Upon contact of both belts 30 with the opposite sides of the box, thetwo sensors 33 will then deliver signals to the logic system 96, causingpiston 80 to cease operation.

4. The movement of the belts 30 will move the box B forwardly until itstrikes the box plate 20. This will then activate the sensor 100 whichwill signal the logic system 96. The logic system 96 will then signalthe piston 14 controlling the frame 12 to drop downwardly and willsimultaneously signal the piston 28 controlling the product support rail26 to move upward. It will also simultaneously signal the motors 31 tocease operation.

The box will thus be stationary, centered with respect to the centerline of the apparatus by means of the simultaneous inward movement ofthe belts 30, and resting with its lower side flaps open, held at anangle against the angled rollers 24, with the product support rail 26holding the lower front and rear flaps closed, and supporting the weightof the product within the box.

5. The logic system 96 then signals the piston 36 operating the heightsensing arm 34 so as to cause the height sensing arm 34 to swingdownwardly on to the top of the box 8. As the sensing arm 34 movesdownwardly, the finger member 35 will strike the front leading flap ofthe box and press it downwardly until the true height of the box B isdetermined. The sensor unit 37 then provides a signal to the logicsystem 96. If the box height is same as the height of the box goingthrough the gluing portion G, then the signal will be a G signal. If thebox height is not the same, then the signal will be a no GO signal. Sucha signal is produced by the fluidic sensor 130 and 132 as follows. Wherethe two sensors 130 and 132 both register with the channel 136, when arm34 has come to rest on top of the box B, then the signal will be a G0signal. This indicates that the entire frame 50 is already at thecorrect height to accept the box B in the sensing zone 2, and requiresno adjustment.

Conversely, where the sensor 130 is not registering with the groove 136it will be sealed off by the disc 128. The sensor 130 will not registerwith the groove 136 until some upward movement of the frame 50 has takenplace.

Similarly, where the sensor 132 is not registering with the groove 136and is sealed by the disc 128 then it will indicate that some downwardmovement of the frame 50 is required. Obviously, as the upward ordownward movement of the frame 50 takes place the disc 128 will moverelative to the sensors 130 and 132 until such registration takes place.When this occurs, then both sensors will signal the logic system 96 thatno further adjustment is required.

Simultaneously with the sensing of the height of the box B, the widthsensing of the box 8 is achieved by means of the sensors 102 and 104 ina somewhat generally similar manner. Thus, where the width of the box inthe gluing portion G is the same as the width of the box in the sensingzone Z, then the belts 46 and the belt 30 will be at the same width, andthe plate 108 will be spaced equally between the two sensors 102 and104. They will, therefore, deliver a G0 signal to the logic system 96indicating that the gluing portion G of the machine is instantly readyto receive the next box.

On the other hand, if there is a size difference, then one or other ofthe sensors 102 or 104 will deliver a different signal from the other,indicating a NO GO condi- [101'].

6. In the event that the logic system 96 receives a NO GO signal fromeither of the sensors 130 or 132 or 102 or 104, then it willautomatically introduce a delay of approximately two to four seconds, soas to permit the box in the gluing portion G to be cleared through theapparatus before proceeding to admit the box B, in the sensing zone Z,to the gluing portion G.

On the other hand, if the signals from the sensors 132, 130, 102 and 104are all GO, then the logic system 96 immediately signals the piston 22to drop the box stop plate 20 and simultaneously signals the motors 31to start up so as to push the box in the sensing zone 2 through into thegluing zone G.

7. As the box enters the gluing zone G, it will enter into the grip ofthe drive belt 46 and will be moved axi ally through the gluing portionG. As it moves along this path, it will strike sensors located on eitherside, adjacent to the drive belts 46 in sequence one after the other.

Dealing first with the sensors 110, 112, 114 and 116, on the front sideof the machine as the leading edge of the box strikes sensor 1 10, thissensor delivers a signal to the logic system 96 which there upon signalsthe piston 22 to raise the box stop plate 20 so as to prevent the entryof a further box into the gluing portion G.

8. As the box strikes sensor 112, the sensor delivers a signal to thelogic system 96 which there upon signals the motors 62 of the rearcloser 60 to commence rotation so as to engage the rear upper flap ofthe box and drive it closed in the manner described.

9. As the box strikes sensor 114 it signals the logic system 96 whichthere upon signals piston 14 to raise the frame 12 upwardly, and signalspiston 28 so as to drop the product support 26 downwardly, andsimultaneously signal the piston so as to move the belts 30 outwardly.In this way, the sensing zone Z is prepared once again to receive thenext box for sensing, and opening of the bottom laps in a mannerdescribed above.

As the box strikes the sensor 116, it signals the logic system 96, whichthere upon signals the motor 62 to cease operation.

At this stage, the lower front and rear flaps are engaged by the centralproduct support rail 40, with the two lower side flaps open, andsupported by the angled rollers 38. Similarly, the top front and rearflaps are held securely down by the securing rail 64, with the two upperside flaps standing open. The top and bottom of the box is thereforeready for gluing.

Application of the glue and the length of the glue pattern is controlledby the sensors 118, 120, 122, and 124. As the leading edge of the boxstrikes sensor 118 and 120, nothing happens. When the leading edge ofthe box strikes sensor 122 it signals the logic system 96 which in turnsignals the top and bottom glue applicator valve 66 and 68 to commencedelivering glue. This is done by a spray system in four separate bandsrunning lengthwise along the bottom and top front and rear flapsrespectively.

10. As the box strikes'the sensor 124 it signals the logic system 96which signals the valve 66 and 68 to shut off. This provides a slightgap at the center of the box, so as to avoid spraying glue between thefront and rear flaps, which would otherwise contaminate the productwithin the box.

As the trailing end of the box leaves the sensor 118, that sensordelivers a signal to logic system which there upon reactivates the gluevalve 66 and 68 to com mence spraying once more, and as the trailing endof l l the box leaves the sensor 120, this in turn shuts off thevalve.66. anld 68.

ll. As the box proceeds further down through the apparatus, under themovement of the belts 46, the lower side flaps are closed by the lowerflap closers 42, and upper. side flaps are closed by the upper closerbars 70. With the upper and lower side flaps closed in against the upperand lower front and rear flaps, all that is required is to applypressure, through the medium of the pressure assembly 72 as the boxpasses there beneath, andthe glue will set and the box is closed.

This completes the description of the function of the apparatus wherethe box sizes are the same.

Where the box sizes are different, then one or other of the sensors 102,104, 130 and 132 will deliver a NO GO signal to the logic system 96.This will therefore introdiiee a predetermined delay of somewherebetween 2 and 4 seconds, during which the box presently going throughthe gluing portion G will be cleared through the machine 12. After thispredetermined delay the logic system 96 will then signal the aircylinder 90 to move the drive .belts 46 inwardly or outwardly so as tobring them into alinment with the belt 30 of the sensing zone Z. Suchmovement of the cylinder 90 will continue until a G signal has beenreceived from sensors 102 and 104, indicating that the belts 46 arealined with the belts 30. Simultaneously, the logic system 96 willsignal the cylinde'r 55 to raise or lower the frame 50. Upward ordownward movement of the frame 50 will cause the height sensing arm 34to. rotate about the hub 126, thereby moving the disc 128 relative tothe sensor 130 and 132. As soon as the frame 50 is at the correctheight, sensors 130 and 132 will deliver the GO signal I to the logicsystem 96. As soon as the logic system 96 receives the GO signal, itwill proceed as before, that is to say the box stop plate will bedropped, the motor 3listarted up so as to drive the box from the sehsingzone Z into the gluing portion G.

Asibefore, once the box in the sensing zone Z has been moved into thegluing portion G, the sensor 110 signals the box stop plate 20 to rise,and the sensor 114 signals the piston 80 to move the belts to theirwidest position, and also signals the piston 28 to drop the productsupport rail 26 and signals the piston 14 to raise the frame 12. It willalso signal the piston 18 to drop the input, gate 16 so as to admit afurther box into the sensing zone Z. l

It will thus be seen that by this system, where a series of box all thesame size are present to the apparatus, that they can pass through thegluing portion G, with out the requirement for moving various portionsof the apparatus at all. All that is required is for the belts 30 in thesensing zone 2, and the height sensor arm 34 to determine that the boxis the same size, and it will then pass immediately through into thegluing portion G.

Thus, in this way, it is possible to have two or possibly even threeboxes passing through the gluing zone G simultaneously thereby greatlyincreasing the output of the apparatuswhen all of the boxes are the samesize.

When boxes of different sizes are presented in a random manner to theapparatus, the apparatuscan still operate somewhat faster than otherknown forms of apparatus since one box is being glued while the next boxis being sensed. As soon as the box being glued as cleared the machine,the various movable portions of the gluing portion of the apparatus thenmove directly from point to point ie from the position at which theywere for the box being glued to the position at which they are requiredto be for the next box. It is, therefore, not necessary for them to moveback out to their widest and highest position as in the case ofpreviously known apparatus. 'In this way, considerable wasted movementis avoided, and a faster, more economical operation of the apparatus isachieved. While the apparatus described above is specifically for use asa box gluer, it will be appreciated that boxes may be sealed in otherwell known ways such as stapling, taping and the like. The closing ofthe box in all cases however, may be carried out in essentially the sameway and many features of the presently described box closer may beusefully employed for such a purpose in a stapler or taper.

Alternatively, the glue applicators of the present invention may simplybe replaced by staplers or tapers such as are will known in the art.

The foregoing is a description of a preferred embodiment of theinvention which is given here by way of example only. The invention isnot to be taken as limited to any of these specific features asdescribed but comprehends all such variations there of as come withinthe scope of the appended claims.

The preferred embodiments of the invention in which an exclusiveproperty or privilege is claimed are defined as follows:

I. Apparatus for sealing and closing boxes of different sizes, saidapparatus having movable sealing closing means, said boxes moving intosaid movable sealing and closing means in sequence one after the other,wherein the improvement comprises;

means for closing a portion of the top of a box and sensing the heightof such closed portion prior to entry into said sealing and closingmeans;

height signal generating means responsive to said height sensing means,and.

means for adjusting the height of said sealing and closing means,upwardly or downwardly in response to a height signal, said adjustmentbeing completed prior to entry of said box into said sealing and closingmeans,

2. Apparatus as claimed in claim 1 including conveyor means for movingsaid box from said sensing means to said sealing and closing means, andcontrol means for controllably driving said conveyor means, said controlmeans being responsive to a height sensing signal to procure movement ofsaid conveyor means only when said sealing and closing means are at thecorrect height to receive said box.

3. Apparatus as claimed in claim 1 wherein said height sensing means ismechanically connected to said sealing and closing means, and whereinmovement of said sealing and closing means to vary the height thereof inresponse to a signal as aforesaid moves said height sensing means, andvaries said height signal.

4. Apparatus as claimed in claim 1 including conveyor means, formingpart of said sealing and closing means, engagable with opposite sides ofsaid box to drive same through said sealing and closing means, and meansmovably mounted said conveyor means for movement towards and away fromopposite sides of said box, whereby to accomodate different sizes ofbox.

5. Apparatus as claimed in claim 1 including glue applicator means forsealing said boxes, said applicator means being controllably operable toapply varying quantities of glue.

6. Apparatus as claimed in claim 1 wherein said height sensing meanscomprises an arm member swingably mounted on said movable sealing andclosing means and poweroperated drive means for swinging same downwardlyand upwardly into and-out of contact withthetopofabox. i

7. Apparatus as claimed in claim 1 wherein said height sensing means ismovable between an upperand lower position relative to said sealing andclosing means, and wherein said signal generating means generates asignal above orbelow a predetermined position of said sensing meansrelative to said sealing and closing means said position being betweenits upper and lower position, said signal terminating when said sensingmeans reaches said predetermined position.

8. In an apparatus for sealing and closing boxes ofdifferent sizes, saidapparatus being or the typehaving movable sealing and closing means,said boxes moving into said movable sealing and closing 'means insequence one after the other, an improved flap closing means comprising;

A spiral flap engaging member;

Means mounting said spiral member for movement upwardly and downwardly,said spiral member being oriented at an angle between horizontal andvertical, and motor means for rotating said spiral flap member in adirection to engage and move a flap from an open to a closed position.

9. An improved flap closing means as claimed in claim 8 wherein thespiral flap engaging member comprises a rod member wound into a helicalspiral, rotatably mounted at each end for rotational movement about thecentral axis of said spiral as aforesaid.

10. An improved closing apparatus as claimed in claim 8 wherein saidspiral member is mounted on said movable sealing and closing means, andmoves upwardly and downwardly in unison therewith.

11. An improved flap closing means, as claimed in claim 8 includingheight sensing means for sensing the height of the top of a box andproducing a height signal controlling said movable mounting means andcausing same to move upwardly or downwardly to correct the heightthereof and control means for said motor means operating same when saidmounting means is at the correct height.

12. An improved flap closing means as claimed in claim 8 wherein saidmovable mounting includes a support bar located at a predeterminedangle, bearing means at each end of said bar offset therebeneath, saidspiral member being rotatably mounted therebetween, and said motor meansbeing fastened at one end of said support bar.

13. Apparatus as claimed in claim 8 wherein said spiral flap engagingmember engages a rear top flap of said box and closes same and includingheight sensing means for closing a front top flap of said box whilesimultaneously sensing the height of the top of said box.

14. Apparatus for sealing and closing boxes of different sizes, saidapparatus having movable sealing and closing means, said boxes movinginto said movable sealing and closing means in sequence one after theother and having main conveyor means for engaging said boxes on oppositesides and moving them therethrough, and being movable inwardly andoutwardly for boxes of difi'erent width, the improvement comprismg;

' width sensing'conveyor means for sensing the width of a box, movabletowards and away from the sides F of said box prior to entry thereofinto said sealing and closing means and being driveable to convey a boxtowards said sealing and closing means;

width signal generating means responsive to move- 'ment of saidserising"means to generate a width signal; i

means for moving said main conveyor' means inwardly or outwardly inrespponse to said width signal to accomodate, said box at'said sensingmeans,

and, f drive means for driving said width sensing conveyor means whensaid movemeht of said conv' eyor means is; completed. M I

l5 Apparatus as claimed in claim wherein said widthse ising conveyormeans comprises a pair of conveyorbeltsri ounted on drivemeans so as toengage opposite sides of said box and contact sensors associatedtherewith for sensing contact with said sides of said box and means formoving said conveyor belts inwardly and outwardly, said drive meansbeing operable to drive said belts thereby moving said box towards saidmain conveyor means after sensing the width thereof.

16. Apparatus as claimed in claim 15 including stop means between saidconveyor belts and said main conveyor means to check a box between saidbelts, and power operated means for moving said stop means to permitsuch movement.

17. Apparatus as claimed in claim 15 including bottom flap releasingmeans located between said width sensing conveyor means operable topermit two bottom side flaps of said box to swing downwardly, andproduct support means movable upwardly against the bottom rear and frontflaps of said box to support the same, and preventing release of thecontents of the box.

18. Apparatus as claimed in claim 15 including control switch means onone of said conveyor belts and said main conveyor means, operable toprocure either inward or outward movement of said main conveyor means,and switch contact means on the other of said conveyor belt and saidmain conveyor means, relative movement between said switch means andsaid contact means caused by inward movement of said conveyor belts tothe width dimension of a box therebetween procuring movement of saidmain conveyor belts to a corresponding width dimension.

19. Apparatus for sealing and closing boxes of different sizes saidapparatus having movable sealing and closing means said boxes movinginto said movable sealing and closing means in sequence one after theother the improvement comprising;

means for sensing the height of a box prior to entry into said sealingand closing means;

height signal generating means responsive to said height sensing means;

means for adjusting the height of said sealing and closing means inresponse to a height signal said adjustment being completed prior toentry of said box into said sealing and closing means;

main conveyor means forming part of said sealing and closing, andengageable with opposite sides of said box to drive same through saidsealing and closing means;

means movably mounted said main conveyor means for movement towards andaway from opposite sides of said box, whereby to accomodatedifferentsizes of boxes;

width sensing means movable towards and away from the sides of said boxprior to its entry into said sealing and closing means, said widthsensing means producing a width signal, and,

means for moving said main conveyor means inwardly and outwardly inresponse to said width signal whereby to move said main conveyor meansto the correct width to accept said box.

20. Apparatus as claimed in claim 19 wherein said height sensing meansis movable between an upper and lower position relative to said sealingand closing means, and wherein said signal generating means generates asignal above or below a predetermined position of said sensing meansrelative to said sealing and closing means said position being betweenits upper and lower position, said signal terminating when said sensingmeans reaches said predetermined position.

21. Apparatus as claimed in claim 19 wherein said aeight sensing meansis operable to contact and close e frorit top flap of the box and tosense a height of the 10p of the box, and including a spiral flapengaging member for engaging and closing the rear top flap of the boxand drive means for rotating the same.

22. Apparatus as claimed in claim 19 wherein said width sensing meanscomprises a pair of conveyor belts mounted on drive means so as toengage opposite sides of said box and contact sensors associatedtherewith for sensing contact with said sides of said box and means formoving said conveyor belts inwardly and outwardly, said drive meansbeing operable to drive said belts thereby moving said box towards saidmain conveyor means after sensing the width thereof.

23. Apparatus as claimed in claim 19 including glue applicator means forsealing said boxes said applicator means being controllably operable toapply varying quantities of glue, and being movable to apply glue invarying patterns depending upon the size of the box.

I l II t

1. Apparatus for sealing and closing boxes of different sizes, saidapparatus having movable sealing closing means, said boxes moving intosaid movable sealing and closing means in sequence one after the other,wherein the improvement comprises; means for closing a portion of thetop of a box and sensing the height of such closed portion prior toentry into said sealing and closing means; height signal generatingmeans responsive to said height sensing means, and, means for adjustingthe height of said sealing and closing means, upwardly or downwardly inresponse to a height signal, said adjustment being completed prior toentry of said box into said sealing and closing means.
 2. Apparatus asclaimed in claim 1 including conveyor means for moving said box fromsaid sensing means to said sealing and closing means, and control meansfor controllably driving said conveyor means, said control means beingresponsive to a height sensing signal to procure movement of saidconveyor means only when said sealing and closing means are at thecorrect height to receive said box.
 3. Apparatus as claimed in claim 1wherein said height sensing means is mechanically connected to saidsealing and closing means, and wherein movement of said sealing andclosing means to vary the height thereof in response to a signal asaforesaid moves said height sensing means, and varies said heightsignal.
 4. Apparatus as claimed in claim 1 including conveyor means,forming part of said sealing and closing means, engagable with oppositesides of said box to drive same through said sealing and closing means,and means movably mounted said conveyor means for movement towards andaway from opposite sides of said box, whereby to accomodate differentsizes of box.
 5. Apparatus as claimed in claim 1 including glueapplicator means for sealing said boxes, said applicator means beingcontrollably operable to apply varying quantities of glue.
 6. Apparatusas claimed in claim 1 wherein said height sensing means comprises an armmember swingably mounted on said movable sealing and closing means andpower operated drive means for swinging same downwardly and upwardlyinto and out of contact with the top of a box.
 7. Apparatus as claimedin claim 1 wherein said height sensing means is movable between an upperand lower position relative to said sealing and closing means, andwherein said signal generating means generates a signal above or below apredetermined position of said sensing means relative to said sealingand closing means said position being between its upper and lowerposition, said signal terminating when said sensing means reaches saidpredetermined position.
 8. In an apparatus for sealing and closing boxesof different sizes, said apparatus being of the type having movablesealing and closing means, said boxes moving into said movable sealingand closing means in sequence one after the other, an improved flapclosing means comprising; A spiral flap engaging member; Means mountingsaid spiral member for movement upwardly and downwardly, said spiralmember being oriented at an angle between horizontal and vertical, andmotor means for rotating said spiral flap member in a direction toengage and move a flap from an open to a closed position.
 9. An improvedflap closing means as claimed in claim 8 wherein the spiral flapengaging member comprises a rod member wound into a helical spiral,rotatably mounted at each end for rotational movement about the centralaxis of said spiral as aforesaid.
 10. An improved closing apparatus asclaimed in claim 8 wherein said spiral member is mounted on said movablesealing and closing means, and moves upwardly and downwardly in unisontherewith.
 11. An improved flap closing means, as claimed in claim 8including height sensing means for sensing the height of the top of abox and producing a height signal controlling said movable mountingmeans and causing same to move upwardly or downwardly to correct theheight thereof and control means for said motor means operating samewhen said mounting means is at the correct height.
 12. An improved flapclosing means as claimed in claim 8 wherein said movable mountingincludes a support bar located at a predetermined angle, bearing meansat each end of said bar offset therebeneath, said spiral member beingrotatably mounted therebetween, and said motor means being fastened atone end of said support bar.
 13. Apparatus as claimed in claim 8 whereinsaid spiral flap engaging member engages a rear top flap of said box andcloses same and including height sensing means for closing a front topflap of said box while simultaneously sensing the height of the top ofsaid box.
 14. Apparatus for sealing and closing boxes of differentsizes, said apparatus having movable sealing and closing means, saidboxes moving into said movable sealing and closing means in sequence oneafter the other and having main conveyor means for engaging said boxeson opposite sides and moving them therethrough, and being movableinwardly and outwardly for boxes of different width, the improvementcomprising; width sensing conveyor means for sensing the width of a box,movable towards and away from the sides of said box prior to entrythereof into said sealing and closing means and being driveable toconvey a box towards said sealing and closing means; width signalgenerating means responsive to movement of said sensing means togenerate a width signal; means for moving said main conveyor meansinwardly or outwardly in respponse to said width signal to accomodatesaid box at said sensing means, and, drive means for driving said widthsensing conveyor means when said movement of said main conveyor means iscompleted.
 15. Apparatus as claimed in claim 14 wherein said widthsensing conveyor means comprises a pair of conveyor belts mounted ondrive means so as to engage opposite sides of said box and contactsensors associated therewith for sensing contact with said sides of saidbox and means for moving said conveyor belts inwardly and outwardly,said drive means being operable to drive said belts thereby moving saidbox towards said main conveyor means after sensing the width thereof.16. Apparatus as claimed in claim 15 including stop means between saidconveyor belts and said main conveyor means to check a box between saidbelts, and power operated means for moving said stop means to permitsuch movement.
 17. Apparatus as claimed in claim 15 including bottomflap releasing means located between said width sensing conveyor meansoperable to permit two bottom side flaps of said box to swingdownwardly, and product support means movable upwardly against thebottom rear and front flaps of said box to support the same, andpreventing release of the contents of the box.
 18. Apparatus as claimedin claim 15 including control switch means on one of said conveyor beltsand said main conveyor means, operable to procure either inward oroutward movement of said main conveyor means, and switch contact meanson the other of said conveyor belt and said main conveyor means,relative movement between said switch means and said contact meanscaused by inward movement of said conveyor belts to the width dimensionof a box therebetween procuring movement of said main conveyor belts toa corresponding width dimension.
 19. Apparatus for sealing and closingboxes of different sizes said apparatus having movable sealing andclosing means said boxes moving into said movable sealing and closingmeans in sequence one after the other the improvement comprising; meansfor sensing the height of a box prior to entry into said sealing andclosing means; height signal generating means responsive to said heightsensing means; means for adjusting the height of said sealing andclosing means in response to a height signal said adjustment beingcompleted prior to entry of said box into said sealing and closingmeans; main conveyor means forming part of said sealing and closing, andengageable with opposite sides of said box to drive same through saidsealing and cLosing means; means movably mounted said main conveyormeans for movement towards and away from opposite sides of said box,whereby to accomodate different sizes of boxes; width sensing meansmovable towards and away from the sides of said box prior to its entryinto said sealing and closing means, said width sensing means producinga width signal, and, means for moving said main conveyor means inwardlyand outwardly in response to said width signal whereby to move said mainconveyor means to the correct width to accept said box.
 20. Apparatus asclaimed in claim 19 wherein said height sensing means is movable betweenan upper and lower position relative to said sealing and closing means,and wherein said signal generating means generates a signal above orbelow a predetermined position of said sensing means relative to saidsealing and closing means said position being between its upper andlower position, said signal terminating when said sensing means reachessaid predetermined position.
 21. Apparatus as claimed in claim 19wherein said height sensing means is operable to contact and close thefront top flap of the box and to sense a height of the top of the box,and including a spiral flap engaging member for engaging and closing therear top flap of the box and drive means for rotating the same. 22.Apparatus as claimed in claim 19 wherein said width sensing meanscomprises a pair of conveyor belts mounted on drive means so as toengage opposite sides of said box and contact sensors associatedtherewith for sensing contact with said sides of said box and means formoving said conveyor belts inwardly and outwardly, said drive meansbeing operable to drive said belts thereby moving said box towards saidmain conveyor means after sensing the width thereof.
 23. Apparatus asclaimed in claim 19 including glue applicator means for sealing saidboxes said applicator means being controllably operable to apply varyingquantities of glue, and being movable to apply glue in varying patternsdepending upon the size of the box.